ADDRESS AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8789, 10 March 1894, Page 8

ADDRESS AT LYTTELTON.

» 1 There was a large attendance at the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, on Thursday evening, when Mrs Cunnington delivered an address to men only. His Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch occupied the chair, and the Rev- C. Coates was also on the platform. Mrs Cunnington spoke most eloquently for about au hour and a-half. After nine years of rescue work in Christchurch she was forced to admit the utter inadequacy of the present methods for dealing with the social evil, and. ahe had now determined to turn to the men with a view to obtaining prevention rather than a care by more stringent legislation on the matter. The speaker, who had a most varied experience of the work, quoted a few instances that had come under her notice. Among other things she pointed out that if a girl of fifteen years of age chose to live at an immoral house, there was no power in the land that could take her out of it. Her parents were utterly powerless in the matter; all they could do was to bring a civil action for money damages against the parties for harbouring her there. She had taken the very best legal advice on this subject when the matter had come under her notice, and found the cose to be as stated. The speaker was loudly applauded from time to time, and at the conclusion of her address the following resolution was carried unanimously—"Thab this meeting of men urges upon the Government the necessity of passing an Act making it illegal for any girl under twenty-one years of age to earn her living by immorality and degradation." The resolution was moved by Mr G. Laurenson and seconded by Mr W. Owen. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by the Rev. C. Coates, and a collection to defray expenses terminated the meeting.